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UCT students develop app to limit waiting time in salons

You can now pre-book appointments at your local salon, thanks to UCT students who developed an app to limit queueing times.

Vodacom price hikes

Image via Adobe Stock

On fleek — or looking good — was given another meaning when four budding entrepreneurs from the University of Cape Town, created the app “Fleeker”. The app was originally created in 2018, linking salons to customers, but the pandemic has forced the business to be more innovative.

An app to limit queueing

Waiting in queues for a hairstylist or at a local barber shop was the norm but in a pandemic-ridden environment where social distancing and hygiene protocols must be adhered to, the procedure has had to change.

The Fleeker team states that they have managed to shrink the waiting time to be served in a salon from four hours to just five minutes — all thanks to their innovative app.

Salons open up after lockdown

With the announcement that grooming and personal care services are opening their doors to the public, the Fleeker team decided to further develop their application to comply with laws that were enforced by the government in the beauty and cosmetics industry.

The Fleeker website reads, “This [application] helps avoid unnecessary human contact but also allows stylists to have more online presence and manage their business efficiently.”

Besides limiting contact and waiting times in the salon, the app allows local stylists to accept appointments and online payments, receive feedback from customers, advertise their prices and services and to ultimately gain the trust of the consumer.

The app also caters as a platform for students to offer their beautifying services and earn an income.

How to use the app

The app can be accessed via the website, Fleeker, or users can download it.

  • Sign up as a customer and include your email address and necessary details to create an account
  • Choose the service that you desire — hair, makeup or nails
  • Browse through the various service providers and look at their past work
  • Book an appointment

The platform can be used in the Cape Town region and has a location-sharing functionality to ensure that clients select a therapist in close proximity to them.

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